Posted on 11/09/2009 4:56:39 PM PST by Alter Kaker
Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Monday at 5 p.m. that she will not seek re-election as governor in 2010.
"After much soul-searching, and discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election next year," Rell said in her Capitol office during a hastily called press conference with her family standing by.
She said it has been "an honor" to serve. She cited accomplishments including ethics and campaign finance reform, noting that in 2004 she "came in at a troubling time in our state's history."
That was a reference to her ascension from lieutenant governor on July 1, 2004, after the resignation of former Gov. John G. Rowland during a corruption scandal that later sent him to federal prison for 10 months.
Rell began the startling news conference that broke the calm of a Monday evening at the Capitol with a typically folksy thank you to those who participated in a holiday food drive in recent days. She walked into the room with a smile on her face and no one trailing her to the lectern, making it seem that it could be just another announcement. That continued when she talked about the food drive, but then she switched gears.
"The second thing I'd like to do is I want to share with you the news that, after much soul searching and discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election next year."
Those few words will set off a major scramble among Republican hopefuls including Fedele, who already has said he would seek the governorship if Rell decided against running, House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero of Norwalk, and Senate Republican leader John McKinney of Southport.
Meanwhile, the race for the Democratic nomination will heat up because now many more Democrats will believe they have a chance to win in 2010. Democratic hopefuls include longtime Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz; former U.S. Sen. candidate Ned Lamont; former House Speaker James Amann; and state Sen. Gary Lebeau.
Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele said that Rell has told him privately that she will support him -- even if there are other Republican candidates in the race. Fedele reiterated that he will run for governor.
If that were really true, an end to RINOs would have been worth it.
She sees the Tsunami on the horizon.
true.
No real argument, except in not saying she never fought for Republican ideas, abandoned every republican principle once she was placed in office after Rowland was busted, and didn’t do a damn thing worth remembering except raise the budget every year just as the dems asked her to, knowing our state was in the tank fiscally.
Rell might as well been a Democrat. It will be a transference of power from the OP(formerly the GOP) wing of the socialist Republicrat party to the RAT wing of the party.
“She sees the Tsunami on the horizon.”
Do you mean the state budget meltdown, or the 2010 elections?
For a second I thought it said Reid.
Patience. It’ll happen.
Is Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele any better?
yes
Not really. Maybe on abortion. But he's in the pocket of the environmentalist wackos, state employee unions, and has a C rating from the NRA. He's the great white hope, since the other potential GOP candidates: House Republican leader Larry Cafero and Senate Minority leader John McKinney are borderline socialists.
She cited accomplishments including ethics.
Since when is being ethical an accomplishment??
Where the hell do I live anymore. This stuff is un believable
...will set off a major scramble among Republican hopefuls including Fedele, who already has said he would seek the governorship if Rell decided against running, House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero of Norwalk, and Senate Republican leader John McKinney of Southport. Meanwhile, the race for the Democratic nomination will heat up because now many more Democrats will believe they have a chance to win in 2010. Democratic hopefuls include longtime Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz; former U.S. Sen. candidate Ned Lamont; former House Speaker James Amann; and state Sen. Gary Lebeau. Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele said that Rell has told him privately that she will support him -- even if there are other Republican candidates in the race. Fedele reiterated that he will run for governor.
I guess the insider information that I had as an outsider is no longer insider information. (But I am remaining an outsider.)
Worst RINO Governor of CT EVER steps aside. Maybe some of the Senate candidates can switch races ?
It is Connecticut. How much better can we expect? As someone who lived in New Canaan years ago I can’t remember the last tue Conservative in Connecticut.
But now the RAT floodgates are going to open wide. We're going to end up with a FAR WORSE democRAT governor, IMO.
Chomping at the bit to be CT governor are far lefties Ned Lamont, Susan Bysiewicz, Dannel Malloy, John DeStefano, Richard Blumenthal, et al.
There's no way we'll end up with a conservative or even a RINO as governor of CT once Jodi Rell leaves office. It's gonna be a far-left democRAT, mark my words. Personally, I would prefer Rell over those I listed above.
Governor Ned Lamont??? God help us.
What about Schiff? He could give up the Senate race.
DAMN I read Reid for some reason. I got so excited for a second.
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